http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/ the personal weblog of the lamb family en-us Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000389
I gave in...

stephanieandmicah.blogspot.com

See you on the other side...]]> Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000388
s = b / f

b = q * p

q = t - a

p = m * c + y

Okay lets break this down.

s: Success of the blog. That one is pretty self-explanatory.

t: Time. How much time do I, the author, have in my life.

a: Activity. How much is going on in my life? Life changes, fun events, trips, unexpected crises and so forth

q: Quantity. Basically the frequency of the updates.

p: Participation. How many people are hitting this site on a regular basis and contributing.

m: Me. This is a measurement of my motivation.

c: Content. Is my stuff any good?

y: You. This is a measurement of your contribution through comments.

f: Freak-out-variable. More on this later.

As you can see there are some really interesting and complicated relationships here. First, the obvious ones. (t-a) is pretty clear. There needs to be a careful balance of enough stuff going on in my life to write about while still leaving me time to write it. If 'a' gets too high then the blog is one of the first things to go. If 'a' gets too low then the spacing between posts gets so large that 'y' falls away. Then we are just left on 'm' which, to be honest, can get pretty boring. You see a high 'y' value gives 'm' a boost. Now 'p' can be carried for awhile my a strong 'm' with little to no 'y' but that won't last forever. 'q' on the other hand is completely outside of anyone's control. A extremely high 't' works well with a moderate 'a' but if 'a' drops too low in relation to 't' then 'q' gets so high that 'c' starts to suffer. No matter how high 'm' reaches, if 'c' is at zero then nothing…

You would think that this is a simple formula. The higher 's' gets then the better the blog. Not quite. While it is true that say a value of 's' of 42 is better than 41, 42 is not necessary better than everything below it. This is because of 'f'. 'f' can manifest in many ways. Lower values of 'f' are usually great. At those levels 'f' is usually an indication of a change or decision which can make for a great post. However, as 'f' increases in value it can actually add to the value of 'a' which more than likely will reduce 'q'. This becomes a huge detriment obviously if 'q' is reduced to zero.

Now you may say, "Micah, what's the problem? So a high 'f' is bad."

"Not so fast reader," I would say, "I have not yet told you of the platt-phenomenon."

The platt-phenomenon is a strange beast. As 'f' increases to intensely high values it can actually bring 's' closer and closer to zero. In addition, as long as 'b' retains any value at all greater than zero then 's' will never reach nothingness. The platt-phenomenon refers to the fact that infinitely small values of 's' can actually be more entertaining than higher values. You know it's true. Everyone likes to watch a good freak-out. As 's' gets closer and closer to zero, posts tend to become more like funny videos of people getting hurt trying to skateboard down a flight of stairs. The platt-phenomenon is all around us. The producers of American Idol know this well. In fact the platt-phenomenon is named in honor of Larry Platt of American Idol fame. (Think "Pants on the Ground"). Idol knows that there are two kinds of people that viewers tune in to see. The incredibly good and the infinitely bad.

Now as many of you know (both readers I currently have), Stephanie and I are expecting our first child. I view this as a perfect time to restart this blog. One thing I know for sure is that we will have a good mix of great, fun posts about pregnancy and early-parenthood paired up with some genuine 'pants on the ground' moments of complete and utter freak-out.

All I can really say is stay tuned.]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000387
With facebook, twitter, flickr and so forth I don't want to reinvent the wheel but also want to maintain control over the content.

Anyway, watch for changes around here.]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000386
I know. "Slowed" might be a wee bit of an understatement.

There is a reason though. I have been trying to get Stephanie to post something on the blog. I then said that I wasn't going to post anymore until she wrote up something. Anything.

That really isn't working out as you can tell.

So here is the new plan. Anybody that wants to hear from Stephanie needs to let us know in the comments of this post. That is if anybody is still subscribed to this feed...]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000385 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000384
And its a good prize too.



Good Luck!]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000383 Man: Trouble at mill.
Woman: Oh no - what kind of trouble?
Man: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treddle.
Woman: Pardon?
Man: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treddle.
Woman: I don't understand what you're saying.
Man: (slightly irritably and with exaggeratedly clear accent) One of the cross beams has gone out askew on the treddle.
Woman: Well what on earth does that mean?
Man: *I* don't know - Mr Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that's all - I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

(JARRING CHORD - The door flies open and Cardinal Ximinez of Spain enters, flanked by two junior cardinals. Cardinal Biggles has goggles pushed over his forehead. Cardinal Fang is just Cardinal Fang)

Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is suprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.

(Exit and exeunt)

Man: I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

(JARRING CHORD - The cardinals burst in)

Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms - Oh damn! ]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000382

I always posted at work before and I just haven't had time since like November. I need to make it a point to post from home.

Or better yet. Set up a page formatted for my iphone to post from. Then I can post from anywhere.

Future posts:
1. Thoughts on the Macbook Air. (my boss got one.)
2. Steph and I got a riding lawn mower.
3. World of Warcraft update.
4. General Life update.

See all these great posts rolling around in my head.]]> Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000381
So... Why is my blogging cyclical? I get into a blogging rhythm and everything is good. After awhile I feel like i have fallen into a rut. I try to break out but can't so I just stop dancing for awhile. In the past I have gotten back into blogging by redesigning my site. i get all into it and can't wait to start posting again. The problem this time is that I really like my design. I don't want to change it.

So what do i do?

Well I have decided to post something and hope that people comment. (even though I am sure most of you have moved on to other blogs :-] ) Hopefully I get a dialog going again with my blog...

If not...

I might just have to redesign.]]> Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000380
I promise.]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000379
For those who don't know, Steph and I just took a week off and went to Chicago for a mini-vacation and Stephen and Neelie Gulley's wedding. We stayed downtown for the first part of the week and then went out to Wheaton on Thursday for the wedding.

Chicago is a pretty cool city. The Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium were pretty cool and we went up to the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower. (That is the highest floor I have ever been on. The Empire State Building only lets you go to 102.)

We got some great pictures and I will post some soon on the left column. Including one of a giant spider attacking Chicago. It was freaky.]]> Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000378
I haven't decided how I feel about being 30 yet. It doesn't really bother me. But I am not excited about it either. I think the thing is that I just don't care but I feel like I should because it is a 'milestone' or whatever.

I think once you get to a certain age you start to measure how old you are by events in your life not years. So if that is the case then I am somewhere between House and Kid. Is 'Puppy' like House and a Half?]]> Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000377 of GloryReborn ) this morning and he made a joke about me looking at my iPhone walking across campus and falling into the fountain. I then had to explain to my brother that sadly, the fountain is now a pretty, green, grassy area. It made me realize how much i missed the fountain. In order to understand any further you have to have a working knowledge of the now dead fountain.

For those non-baylor among us:
Picture in your head two missile launchers sat in a line with one higher than the other. Now picture water coming off the ends of them. Next imagine the whole area being a pool about one foot deep with rectangular concrete blocks coming up out of the water. You got it.

I know that every baylor student has walked from Old Main to the SUB and one day realize that they didn't look down. They walked across the fountain and never even checked to make sure that they stepped on the blocks instead of the water. I also know that way more than would admit have missed the blocks somewhere during the second semester of their freshman year when they thought they had it down only to realize that you can't really do that until your Sophomore year.

I eventually got to the point where I didn't even notice the fountain. i walked across it perhaps everyday and never even looked down. It was just more sidewalk with some 'puddles' ( funny how you could usually keep your feet dryer by walking through the fountain than around it due to poor drainage. )

I miss the fountain. We need a fountain.

To my surprise this morning as I was mulling this over I had a meeting in Sid Rich 2.0 and found what looks to be new fountains in the recently remodeled courtyard. I will take some pictures of SR2.0 when I get a chance and post them for those alumni to see and be amazed. It is really, really nice inside.

Update: I added a picture of Sid Rich to the photos on the left. Believe it or not this is the first floor hall on the Library side.

Update 2: Looks like the picture of Sid Rich broke my MagPieRSS?!? I don't have time to mess with it right now because I am at work but I will look at it later tonight. Until then you can check out my photostream here:
LambCast

Update 3: Fixed. check out sid rich 2.0]]> Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000376
Anyway. The thing is that Ryn0 and Angela are coming into town and I can't wait to see them. I haven't seen Ryn0 in a good while. I read his blog to try to keep up but I like pictures and he doesn't post a lot of pictures.

So it is gonna be fun to have everyone at my party and I can't wait to see Ryn0.

disclaimer: for info as to why this post sounds like I am in love with Ryn0 check out his post over at mr. & mrs. smith]]> Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:00:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieandmicah.com/blog/entry.php?entid=000375
Cell phones and PDA's that don't get in your way don't do enough to be helpful. Cell phones and PDA's that are helpful get in your way.

Enter the iPhone.

The iphone already does a lot of business-centric tasks better than other phones and PDA's that I have used before even though they were targeted at business users. This is not because it has the features. Those devices like the Moto-Q and the iPaq best the iphone hands down if you just look at a feature chart.

No, it is how you use the features you have. I get my email from 3 different accounts, calls from 2 different numbers and text messages all on my iphone. (Now if this new level of connectivity is good or bad remains to be seen but I am sure my co-workers appreciate it.)

I also never more than a click away from google, the mother of all tech-support resources.

Last week while walking across campus from one meeting to another; I checked my personal email account, noticed that my electric bill was ready, logged on to TXU.com, paid it, called stephanie and told her how much it was and then checked Oprah.com for tickets at her request. The only down-side was walking into a few trees (kidding (sorta))

This thing is fantastic.]]>